A single Na+-Pi cotransporter in Toxoplasma plays key roles in phosphate import and control of parasite osmoregulation.

ABSTRACT: Inorganic ions such as phosphate, are essential nutrients required for a broad spectrum of cellular functions and regulation. During infection, pathogens must obtain inorganic phosphate (Pi) from the host. Despite the essentiality of phosphate for all forms of life, how the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii acquires Pi from the host cell is still unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that Toxoplasma actively internalizes exogenous Pi by exploiting a gradient of Na+ ions to drive Pi uptake across the plasma membrane. The Na+-dependent phosphate transport mechanism is electrogenic and functionally coupled to a cipargarmin sensitive Na+-H+-ATPase. Toxoplasma expresses one transmembrane Pi transporter harboring PHO4 binding domains that typify the PiT Family. This transporter named Tg

SUBMITTER: Asady B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7817038 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature